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Legolas felt his skin itch as he walked through the streets of Gondor, still lit up with celebrations for their victory over the enemy. He should be happy, he knows this. He should be celebrating his friend's coronation, their final victory. But he hasn't been alone in the woods since their quest started, and the loudness of the city of grating on his ears. He misses the quiet of the woods. Someone bumps into him as he walks, and his mind feels as though it's bursting at the seams. He knows he must get out of the noise, at least, lest he loses his mind entirely. But the stone streets and alleys of Minas Tirith confuse him terribly, and he doesn't have a clue where the exit might be, or where he could find a quiet place.
He looks up at the high walls of the city surrounding him, trapping him in. An idea forms in his mind, and he is glad he's been climbing trees since he was a small child, because he scales the stone walls with ease. The guards stationed there do not seem terribly excited to see him, but he can see a small forest just beyond the walls, and he's been running off into the woods with his farther's guards trying to stop him since he was little, too. So he evades them with no issue. He runs and jumps across the heights of Minas Tirith, shouts of guards trailing behing him, barely audible above the sound of celebrations.
He keeps running until he's deep in the woods, finally slowing down, breathing a sigh of relief at the light silence around him. He walks around for a little while longer, a restless energy running through his bones. Eventually, his mind starts to grow quiet again, and he climbs a tall tree, settling in the cradle of it's branches. He leans his head back against the tree, listening to the soft, foreign song of the forest. It sings to him of sunsets and butterflies, soft rains and harsh winds. Legolas humms a quiet song in response, telling the forest of the tall trees of Lothlorien, and the thick canopy of Mirkwood. The leaves of the trees flutter softly in the breeze, and Legolas lets out a breath, feeling closer to home than he has in months, despite being further than he's ever been. In the silence he can hear the still quiet call of the sea, but he chooses to focus on the soft song of the trees instead. He rests for some time, having quiet conversation with the forest. It calms him greatly. Yet he still feels rather on edge. He supposes that it would take him more than a couple hours to recover from the everyhing he's been through, but still.
The trees whisper to him of a man entering the forest from the city, and they offer to hide him from the stranger's view. But Legolas knows Aragorn's footsteps when he hears them. So he waits, silently, to be found.
It doesn't take the man long, and Legolas hears his footsteps stop underneath the tree he sits in, but he doesn't look down, keeping his eyes on the leaves above him. He's expeting Aragorn to try to get him down, convince him to rejoin the celebrations. Instead, the newly crowned king of Gondor simply sits down at the base of the tree, leaning back against it. When Legolas eventually peers down at him, he's simply staring into the distance. The trees whisper their confusion at the strange man in their forest, but Legolas doesn't respond, voice suddenly gone far into his throat. They sit in silence for some time until Aragorn speaks up, tone light. "I must say, I was rather surprised when my guards informed me of a strange elf climbing the walls and running from the city. You are aware we have a gate, surely? If you ever find yourself tired of wall jumping." Legolas lets out a huff, deciding in that moment to never exit the city through the gate again, just to annoy Aragorn.
Aragorn talks quietly for some time, speaking of matters of little importance. Legolas listens quietly, drinking in the rumble of Aragorn's voice. Aragorn stops talking for a moment, finally looking up at Legolas. "There's something I'd like to show you, if you'll let me." Legolas peers down at him, leaning over the edge of the tree, squinting at him in suspicion. Aragorn smiles softly at him. "Trust me? Please? I promise you'll like it." Legolas humms quietly, thinking it over for a second. He drops down in front of Aragorn with no warning, smiling at how the man startles slightly.
Aragorn quickly pulls himself up, reaching out a hand for Legolas, but the elf quickly shakes his head, so Aragorn lets it drop, Legolas quietly following after him once he starts walking.
They quickly reach a small clearing absolutely covered in berry bushes. Legolas smiles brightly at Aragorn, grabbing his hand to quickly squeeze it twice, before bounding off into the berries, carefully picking the ripe ones, tossing at least half of them into his mouth.
Aragorn watches quietly, smiling softly, glad to have a moment of respite, and to watch his elf shine.